Should you go to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party?
My short answer is…yes!
But I know these after-hour events, or not for everyone, so I will dive deep into why my family loves Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween party and why it's our favorite after-hours event.
THE BREAKDOWN
Before I start, let me give you an overview of After Hours Events at Walt Disney World. During the holidays, you have Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP). Names can always change in the future, but typically the last few years, those have been the two-holiday after-parties at Magic Kingdom.
Then you have After Hours Events. These separately ticketed events don't come with any special theming. Still, they are held in the Parks after hours with the same benefits of the reduced wait times and specialty characters and Disney snacks.
Moonlight Magic is an after-hours event at each park for DVC members only. This free after-hours event has specialty characters, snack tickets, and reduced park capacity. This is considered one of the perks of being a Disney Vacation Club member.
The final after-hours event is Extended Evening Hours, given to those staying at the Deluxe Disney Resorts on certain nights and is typically available at EPCOT and Magic Kingdom. Every once in a while, you will see a night at Hollywood Studios. Extended Evening Hours are usually held on Mondays and Wednesdays, but they can change, so check the Disney events calendar if you're hoping to land on one of those nights
LET DIVE INTO MNSSHP
Let's return to why you were here, deciding whether to go to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.
This party is one of our favorites because it has some of the best stage shows and fireworks shows, and trick-or-treating in the Magic Kingdom is so special. We are also a family that loves Halloween and dressing up, and even if we weren't going to this Halloween party, you would often find my family wearing matching costumes while trick or treating.
HOW TO INCORPORATE MNSSHP INTO YOUR PLANS
MNSSHP runs from August 11th - October 31st in 2023.
Here are my two recommendations for working into your schedule. First, if you want to avoid this party, going to Magic Kingdom that day is always a good choice because crowds are lower. Many guests skip that day at Magic Kingdom since they know they will not see fireworks, but it's a great day to get on all your favorite rides!
But if you have an extra day at Magic Kingdom, this is perfect, so don't skip it because you have to leave at 7 pm.
If you want to attend the party, assess the group you are going with and their capacity to stay up late, the party is from 7 pm - 12 am. If you're going with "littles," anyone 12 and under. It's always a good idea to skip the park day, sleep in late, rest all day, go to the pool, and keep it low-key. That way, the group can enjoy the late night. Your ticket allows you to enter the park at 4 pm, and the party usually ends at midnight. This gives you a solid eight hours at the park, from 4 pm to 12 am, at a significantly reduced capacity.
We usually head to the park at 3:30 pm, and from the 4 pm to 7 pm window, we typically knock out some of those rides we want to get on, and then we enjoy the party once it starts at 7 pm.
WHY ARE WE SKIPPING A PARK DAY?
These are two reasons why I tell people not to go to the park if they plan on attending Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.
The first reason applies to everyone. The return on investment is low. You are looking at almost $250 for one day at a park between the cost of a theme park ticket and a party ticket. That long of a day will end in disaster because you will be too exhausted to enjoy the party, and the kids will throw tantrums. The party is late - I don't know many kids that regularly stay up until midnight. So spending $250 per person for one day at the park - it's not worth it.
My second reason is I can almost guarantee that your child will fall asleep before the festivities begin if you have a park day. We learned that the hard way in 2013 and listened to our advice for a few years. Then we forgot in 2018 and attempted it again, thinking the kids were older. Not only did we not even make it to the first hour of the party, but we also had a child throw up. After that, the others started throwing tantrums, which was a disaster. So trust me when I say, skip the park day get to the party early, and enjoy it.
ARE THERE DISCOUNTS?
There are always discounts!
As you know, I'm an Undercover Tourist partner, and they will have discounted tickets for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. For dates and party tickets, click here!
Military Families have access to discounted tickets as well. Military Prices are available through Shades of Green's Ticket Office. You can get these in person, or you can contact them via email. Disney's prices at the gate will be similar, with sales tax added.
How do you buy tickets?
From Shades of Green:
You may also purchase these special tickets in person at Shades of Green's Ticket Office
Shades of Green will ship these tickets for a fee. You can email them at: advancedtickets@shadesofgreen.org, and they will email you the forms you must complete.
Direct From Walt Disney World:
These special tickets must be purchased in person (with proper military) from Walt Disney World ticket or Guest Relations locations! They can not be pre-purchased over the phone or the internet. (In the month of October I do not recommed this, as they will more likely be sold out)
Disney Vacation Club members also have a discount. Log into your Disney Vacation Club account and head to your dashboard. You can find a place to purchase discounted tickets.
IS IT WORTH IT?
It depends. If you don't love Halloween, if you're not a fan of being out really late, you may not get the value out of this party. And it's OK because these after our parties are not for everyone, FOMO is real and will sometimes convince you to do something that you really don't want to do, so make sure you know why you were going to this party before you spend $100+ for a ticket.
Here are my TOP FIVE reasons you should not go to this party
Cost: Attending Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party can be expensive, especially for families. Tickets can cost upwards of $100 per person, adding up quickly for larger groups.
Crowds: Since this is a popular event, even with restricted capacity, stage shows, parades and the firework show can feel crowded and overwhelming.
Time: The party only lasts a few hours in the evening, which may not be enough time to experience everything you want. Like everything at Walt Disney World, you must have a plan and strategy going into the party.
Weather: Since the event is held during the end of summer/fall, it is still considered the rainy season. We attended three different parties last year, and the first party was completely rained out, canceling shows and events.
Not for everyone: While the event is marketed as “not-so-scary,” some people may still find the decorations and costumes too frightening or overwhelming. Additionally, those not fans of Halloween may not enjoy the event’s overall theme.
Look lady, I am going to this party! Help me plan!
If you have decided to head to our favorite party. Here are the links below to help you plan your time there. This is my families FAVORITE event. So event though I have given you lots of reason to not go to this party. I WOULD NOT MISS IT. We love Halloween and we love everything about MNSSHP.
Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party: Family Plan
Here are the dates for 2023:
August: 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29
September: 1, 4, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29
October: 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29, 31
November: 1
I hope this blog helps you decide if Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is for your family!
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